Peak Name

 Black Mesa

Date of Climb

August 31, 2004

Published Height

4973 ft

Measured Height

4975 - GPS  

Vertical Climb

approx 640 ft

Published GPS Coordinates

Lat N36º 59' 50"  Long W103º 08' 02"

Measured GPS Coordinates

Lat N36º 55.913'  Long W102º 59.871 (Questionable)'

Height Rank

23

Difficulty Rank

17

 

 

Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

The primary things we heard about Black Mesa were "snakes" and "heat".  The snakes were never seen, but it is a hot hike on a sunny August day.  We carried three liters of water each, and only went through two.  There is one stretch of "up" on the hike when you go up the mesa.  Other than that it is just a long, flat hike across sand and weeds.  Even the part going up the mesa is short, and only consumes about 10 minutes.  Watch out for the "fire" ants if you sit down.  Our total time for the hike was 3 hours and 45 minutes, with 20 minutes at the top, covering 8.4 miles.

Dad at the trailhead.jpg

The trail.jpg

The trail to the top of the mesa.jpg

On top of the mesa.jpg

The monument at the highpoint.jpg

Dad at the trailhead

The trail

The trail to the top of the mesa

On top of the mesa

The monument at the highpoint

Team RAZ at the top.jpg

Hunter updates the logbook.jpg

Looking north.jpg

Monument north.jpg

Monument south.jpg

Team RAZ at the top

Hunter updates the logbook

Looking north

Monument north

Monument south

Monument west 1.jpg

Monument west 2.jpg

Capulin Volcano in the distance.jpg

The geodetic.jpg

Looking into the valley.jpg

Monument west 1

Monument west 2

Capulin Volcano in the distance

The geodetic

Looking into the valley